New Delhi, Nov 26: The Delhi Government referred the matter of the Rs 850 crore alleged land acquisition scam in the Dwarka Expressway project to CBI.
This comes after Delhi Vigilance Minister Atishi submitted the preliminary report to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the alleged involvement of Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar in enhancing an exorbitant compensation award for a land parcel in Bamnoli village in order to provide illicit profits to a company linked to Naresh Kumar's son, Karan Chauhan.
The matter was referred to CBI and ED after the go-ahead from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
According to sources, the preliminary report, which consists of 670 pages, brings out several incriminating facts and states that the "connections and the chronology give the prima facie appearance of complicity" of Chief Secretary with DM Southwest and landowners in the land acquisition on the Dwarka Expressway.
The report also unveils a conspiracy by senior officers of Delhi's Vigilance Department including Chief Secretary to undervalue the scale of the scam as Rs 312 crore when the actual compensation award would have resulted in an illicit gain of Rs 850 crore to the beneficiaries, it added.
In her report, Atishi recommended disciplinary proceedings against Chief Secretary and Divisional Commissioner.
The Vigilance Minister in her preliminary report to the Chief Minister also recommended the immediate removal of Naresh Kumar as Chief Secretary and Divisional Commissioner from their respective posts so that they do not influence the probe.
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